Search operations resume for the body of the last Israeli hostage in Gaza

(7 Jan 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Zeitoun neighborhood, Gaza City, Gaza Strip – 7 January 2026
1. Wide of excavator on truck arriving in Zeitoun neighborhood, Gaza City.
2. Various of armed militants in a vehicle.
3. Various of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) vehicle.
4. Various of excavators
5. Wide of excavator searching for the last body in distance.
6. Wide of ICRC vehicle.
7. Wide of excavator searching for the last body in distance.
8. Various of ICRC vehicle.
9. Various of ICRC staff talking with two men.
10. Various of ICRC staff near vehicle, vehicle driving away.
11. Various of ICRC vehicles and excavator leaving the area.
STORYLINE:
Search operations resumed on Wednersday for the body of the Israeli hostage Ran Gvili, the only one remaining in the strip.

The return of all the hostages was part of the ceasefire deal that was put in place since October and what Israel said is part of the obstacle to move to the second phase of the deal.

Phase one of the deal includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

The health ministry in Gaza said that 422 bodies have been brought to hospitals since the ceasefire went into effect on Oct. 10.

The overall Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas war rose to at least 71,388, the ministry said.

Another 171,269 have been wounded, it added.

The Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts.

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